USF hires Charlie Strong as head football coach

USF has hired former Texas head coach Charlie Strong to the same position, the school announced Sunday.

Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel reported earlier Sunday that the two sides were close to a five-year deal.

Strong was fired by Texas after going 16–21 in his three seasons there. The Longhorns made only one bowl appearance under his watch and finished 5–7 this season.

USF was forced to look for a new coach after Willie Taggart was hired at Oregon. The Bulls went 2–10 in 2013, Taggart’s first year as head coach, but improved steadily in each subsequent year. They were 10–2 this year and will face South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.

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In this week's Punt, Pass & Pork, Andy Staples explains that with Charlie Strong's close ties to the state of Florida and lessons learned from Texas, he has found an ideal situation to succeed with USF football.

Charlie Strong knew he couldn't take a year off. The high-energy former Texas coach has found an ideal landing spot at USF, and with the program returning a boatload of talent next season, he and the Bulls are set to make plenty of noise in 2017.